« | 2 Kings 21 | » |
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. And he ruled fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
2 Manasseh did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. He did the sinful things that were done by the nations whom the Lord drove out from the people of Israel.
3 He built again the high places which his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He built altars for Baal and made an object out of wood to worship the false goddess Asherah. He did as Ahab king of Israel had done. He worshiped all the stars of heaven and served them.
4 He built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem I will put My name."
5 Manasseh built altars for all the stars of heaven in the two open spaces of the Lord's house.
6 He gave his son as a burnt gift, used witchcraft and told the future. He listened to those who spoke with spirits and used their secret ways. He did things that were very sinful in the eyes of the Lord, and made the Lord angry.
7 Then Manasseh put the object he had made for Asherah into the house of the Lord. But the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, "I have chosen this house and Jerusalem from all the families of Israel. Here I will put My name forever.
8 I will not make the feet of Israel travel any more from the land I gave to their fathers. But they must obey all that I have told them, and all the Law that My servant Moses told to them."
9 But they did not listen. Manasseh led them to sin more than the nations whom the Lord destroyed from in front of the people of Israel.
10 Now the Lord spoke through His servants who tell what will happen in the future. He said,
11 "Manasseh king of Judah has done these sinful things. He has sinned more than all the Amorites who were before him. And he has made Judah sin with his false gods. Because he has done this,
12 the Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'See, I am bringing such trouble upon Jerusalem and Judah, that the ears of whoever hears it will be painful.
13 I will punish Jerusalem as I did Samaria and as I did the family of Ahab. I will dry Jerusalem as one dries a dish, rubbing it and turning it up-sidedown.
14 I will leave alone all who are left of My people, and give them to those who hate them. They will become something taken after the battle by those who fight against them.
15 Because they have done what is bad in My eyes. They have been making Me angry since the day their fathers came from Egypt until this day.' "
16 Manasseh killed many who were without guilt. He filled Jerusalem with blood from one end to another. He sinned and made Judah sin, by doing what is sinful in the eyes of the Lord.
17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and his sins are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.
18 Manasseh died and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. And his son Amon became king in his place.
19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled for two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.
20 Amon did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done.
21 He walked in all the ways that his father had walked. He worshiped false gods like his father had.
22 So he turned away from the Lord, the God of his fathers. He did not walk in the way of the Lord.
23 And the servants of Amon made plans against him, and killed the king in his own house.
24 Then the people of the land killed all those who had made plans against King Amon. And they made Josiah his son king in his place.
25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.
26 He was buried in his grave in the garden of Uzza. And his son Josiah became king in his place.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.